Huginn's Story

Though the sun was high in the sky, it appeared that a star had appeared in the blue, only to grow brighter within a few minutes. It was likely that no one would even notice the bright speck until it became a falling star, that streaked toward the lake at terminal velocity. A roar of thundering shook nearby trees, and sent birds flying in fright from the falling object, as it plunged into the lake with a cacophonous splash. Moments passed, as the water attempted to return to its earlier calm, until a coughing, sputtering male thrashed to get his head above the surface, screaming wordlessly in panic. His black hair was plastered to his face, obscuring his vision, and he seemed to be weighed down by some sort of heavy feathered coat. His screams were somewhat high pitched, and sounded like the panicked cries of a drowning bird. He had a light stubble over his chiseled jaw, and might have been considered handsome, if not for his drowned-animal behavior.

It seemed the man had no clue of how swimming worked, as he frantically slapped at the water with both arms, in an effort to propel himself upward. In a turn of unsurprising events he suddenly vanished under the water, probably yanked into the depths by the kappa that lived there. Or he just drowned because he fell from the sky and sucked at swimming. These things happened.

Meke shook his head. "We do not speak of the same kappa," he explained. "The kappa I seek will require a different sort of bait. Perhaps you might be of assistance," he noted. Meke wasn't well versed in human attractiveness, but from his time in Losenji he suspected Kyo would be more than adequate for his purposes.

"Meke, sir?" the boy asked as he followed Meke back down into the shallow water. "How can you tell what kind of a kappa it is?" he asked.

The boy seemed to have taken quite a shine for the Mira drifter.

"I will show you," Meke told the boy.

Though before he could follow through on the offer a few murmurs and gestures from the men and women along the road's edge drew his eye. They were pointing skyward and he turned his gaze to the sight of the bright light descending towards the open water.

Up until now Meke had taken care in not making too much commotion as he worked so as to not draw the attention of the kappa that lurked in the deeper waters, but the thunderous roar and subsequent splash followed by the man's mad flailing served to rouse the creatures.

Though they could not be seen yet, the churning of the water and the movements of the ripples at the surface betrayed the creatures beneath.

Meke wasted little time in grabbing the boy up out of the water and turning to pass him off to those at the banks edge; though, his own sudden movements and sloshing only added to the commotion in the water.

"What was that?" Ryo exclaimed, eyes widening as he turned towards the splash. It didn't take him long to make out the flaming shape of a man in the waters. "Ahg! How did he get there?!"

The swordsman jumped into action, taking off down the beach to yell at one of the other villagers. "Setsuo! Fetch your boat! There's someone out in the water!"

Out where Huginn was, whilst the villagers were pushing the boat into the water, the kappa had indeed been disturbed. The turtle-like beasts came in small numbers at first, barging and clawing him as they passed by. The fishing boat was shoved out into motion and Ryo clambered on board alongside two other villagers, bearing spears and oars both.

It would take them time to reach the struggling man though, and it wouldn't be long before the kappa began to tug him downwards under the surface.

Sadly, the villagers came too late. By the time they reached where he had been, all that was left was ripples in the water. Ryo made to dive in after him, but was held back by the other men on board. "He's gone now, you can't go after him or you'll die too." one said to him, shaking his head. "Let's get back to shore while the kappa are still occupied and not attacking our boat."

Some minutes later, Ryo trudged up the beach as the other villagers tied the vessel at the docks. His expression was fixed in a grimace.

Kyo met him at the edge of where the construction was taking place with a sympathetic gaze. "You couldn't have done anything for him. You moved faster than I thought could be possible, but he was too far out."

Nodding mutely, Ryo sighed and sat himself down on the sand. "Seeing the kappa's aggression so close... I was finding it hard to picture the creatures as ferocious as you described them. Not any more. They were out for blood."

"Something needs to be done before more lives are lost..." Kyo muttered, looking back at Meke. "What was that you were saying about wanting my help baiting another kind of kappa?"

is anyone there

/setParent